Micah Parsons makes bold claim about Jayden Daniels’ MVP chances in rookie season
Cowboys' Micah Parsons claimed if rookie Jayden Daniels hadn't missed game time due to injury, he would've been in the MVP conversation.

Jayden Daniels and Micah Parsons (Image via IMAGO/X)
Jayden Daniels made the Pro Bowl in his first season in the NFL but Micah Parsons believes the rookie Washington Commanders quarterback possesses all the abilities to be in the MVP conversation. Parsons compared Daniels’ season with the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s first season in the NFL.
During the recent segment of the Edge Podcast (Bleacher Report), the Cowboys pass rusher argued Daniels could have been a contender for the NFL MVP if he hadn’t picked up a rib injury during the Week 7 fixture against the Carolina Panthers.
Daniels missed three quarters of football, replaced by veteran Marcus Mariota who led the Washington team to a blowout 40-7 victory. The second overall pick in the 2024 draft returned for the next week for the Commanders and outclassed No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears by throwing for 326 yards and a hail mary touchdown along with 8 carries for 52 yards.
I think if he didn’t have that rib injury, we’re looking at, you know, a MVP conversation for him…I haven’t seen more of a cold blooded rookie since I’ve been in the NFL and probably the past besides Lamar [Jackson], probably past five, seven years.
Micah Parsons said.
Micah Parsons on Jayden Daniels:
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 4, 2025
“I think if he didn’t have that rib injury, we’re looking at, you know, a MVP conversation for him…I haven’t seen more of a cold blooded rookie since I’ve been in the NFL and probably the past besides Lamar, probably past five, seven years…”… pic.twitter.com/vb8bTESSuW
Micah Parsons praised Jayden Daniels’ composure
Last year Houston Texans quarterback (also second overall pick) CJ Stroud completed 63.9% of his passes for 4108 yards. Daniels produced significantly better results, completing 69.4% of his passes in 16 games so far.

The 24-year-old is also proficient with his feet, unlike Stroud. Daniels rushed for 864 yards (most by a rookie quarterback, surpassing predecessor Robert Griffin III’s 815 yards in 2012) and scored 6 touchdowns. Parsons attributed the numbers to Daniels’ composure in clutch situations.
His composure… Bro, I get it; he is a 25 (24)-year-old rookie but his composure is like he has been in the league for, you know, the last four, five years.
Micah Parsons said.
Parsons isn’t the only one to rave about Daniels’ calm demeanor in pressure situations. Previously, Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin highlighted the same about his quarterback.
I’ve never seen him flinch. The only time I’ve ever seen him show emotion is when we lost to Baltimore [in Week 6]. He was on the sideline and I was upset, but I was kind of smiling to myself because (I was thinking), we’ve got us one. He hates to lose.
Terry McLaurin said via ESPN.com.
4000 yards is out of the question, but Daniels has the opportunity to finish the season on a high note. With playoff qualification done and dusted, he can target Parsons’ Cowboys on the final day. However, he needs to be cautious because, in the reverse fixture, he threw two picks and the Commanders suffered one of their five defeats.